The Daily Muck

Although Goodling hired career employees based on political preferences, officials within the Justice Department say she was following the example set early by the Bush administration. (Washington Post) The LA Times profiles some of those immigration judges with no background in immigration law but plenty in politics.

Newsweek offers the fullest account so far of Alberto Gonzales’ and Andrew Card’s now infamous hospital visit. Nearly 30 top DOJ officials were set to resign when the Justice Department’s legal opinion on the surveillance program was ignored.

Slate points out that Monica Goodling played to the stereotype of the helpless little girl in her testimony, and it worked. Smashingly.

Bill and Hillary have been flying around the world courtesy of a longtime benefactor Vinod Gupta. A suit being filed by infoUSA claims that the $900,000 spent by Gupta jetting the Clintons around is a “serial misuse of corporate assets and resources.” Gupta also secured $3 million in contracts for former President Clinton to consult for his company. (Associated Press)

Lawyers for Lurita Doan, whose efforts to use her office to promote Republican candidates were recently found in violation of the Hatch Act, is not taking the allegations sitting down. Her lawyers are furious that a report prepared by the Office of Special Counsel has already leaked to the public, and they allege this as proof that the OSC is biased against their client. (Government Executive)

Former Pentagon spy-master Pat Lang and former State Department Chief of Staff Lawrence Wilkerson share inside stories about the pre-war analysis performed by Wolfowitz, Tenet and Feith. (The Washington Note)

Former Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) spent almost $7,000 of campaign funds on personal items, including tickets to the 2004 Sugar Bowl (LSU: 21, OU: 14).

Rep. Waxman (D-CA) certainly takes his investigatory role seriously, and some Republicans have suggested that Waxman is simply trying to humiliate the administration. For his part, Waxman claims that he is performing the role of oversight that was abnegated by the GOP Congress.